Variable-speed mechanism.



J. A. GOODNBR 65A. P. KBNDIG. VARIABLE SPEED MEGHANISM APILIOATION FILED SEPT.. 23, 1907.

Patented May 11, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

NV NTORJ A TTORNE Ys Wim/55555 J. A. GOODNER & A. P. KENDIG. VARIABLE SIP'EED MEGHANISM.

921,233.j AFPLIOATIQN FILED spin. 2a, 1907. Patented May 1i 1909.

@W By y' --I Y l o i Mn i "J" ATTORNEYS 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.4

UNTED STATE@ PAMYTENT OFFOE.

JAMES ANDEW GOODNER AND ALBERT PAUL KENDIG, OF ROCKY FORD, COLORADO.

VARIABLE-SPEED ME CHANISM.

Application led September 23, 1907. Serial No. 394,209.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1 1, 1909.

To all 'whom it 'may concer/lt:

Be it known that we, JAMEs ANDREW GOODNER and ALBERT PAUL KENDIG, citizens of the United States, residing at Rocky Ford, in the county of Otero and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Variable-Speed Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to variable speed mechanism for fly wheels, pulleys, shafting, clutches and other machinery and has for its object to provide means whereby a driven element may be caused to rotate at any degree of speed relative to and less than that of the driving element.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the class described in which the speed of one of the elements is controlled by fiuid pressure actuating devices carried by the other element.

A further object is to form the driving element with a plurality of fluid receiving chambers having pinions mounted for rotation therein and adapted to mesh with a relatively stationary gear carried by the driven element, said pinions being provided with pistons which are actuated by the fluid to rotate the gear when the flow of fluid is impeded or obstructed thereby to transmit motion from the driving element to the driven element.

A further object is to provide a valve for controlling the flow of fluid from one chamber to the other, and means for supplying fiuid to the chamber through the valve.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a variable speed mechanism constructed'in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation partly in section with one of the sections of the fly wheel removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cory responding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention may be used in connection with any kind of machinery in which it is desired to regulate or vary the speed of a driven element with respect to the driving element, and by way of illustration is shown as a means for imparting motion from a driving shaft 5 to a driven member or shaft 6.

The driving element consists of a fly wheel or pulley preferably formed in two sections 7 and 8 having their adjacent faces rigidly secured together by bolts or similar fastening devices 9.

Extending laterally from the section 7 and preferably formed integral therewith is a hub 10 having a central bore 11 for the reception of the driving shaft 5 and to which it is rigidly secured as by a key or spline 11', whereby the fly wheel is caused to rotate with the driving shaft.

The sections 7 and 8 of the fly wheel are pierced by a plurality of transverse openings the walls of which are threaded for engagement with the correspondingly threaded walls of suitable bushings or housings 12, said bushings being provided with laterally extending fianges 13 which bear against the exterior face of the section 8, as shown,` and serve to assist in locking the sections of the fly wheel in assembled position. Surrounding the bushings 12 are circular fluid receiving chambers 14 in which are mounted for rotation on the bushings 12 suitable pinions 15.` The peri heral edges of the pinions are formed wit spaced ears or lugs 16 for the reception of suitable disks or heads 17 which constitute pistons, said pistons being fastened in position between the ears 16 by bolts or similar fastening devices 18 and having their exterior walls provided with split rings or gaskets 19 which bear against the correspondingly curved walls 20 of the uid receiving chambers, as shown.

Keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the driven shaft 6 is a relatively stationary gear 21 provided with a peripheral pocket or recess 22 for the reception of the pistons 17 of the pinions, said pinions or planetary gearing under normal conditions being free to revolve around the central relatively stationary gear 21 without affecting the latter. The pistons 17 are so positioned on the pinions that when said pinions are rotated on the gear 21 to a position opposite the recess 22 the pistons'will enter the recess, asbest shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The hub 10 is provided with an annular chamber 23 in which is mounted for reciprocation a correspondingly shaped valve 24, the latter being provided with a plurality oi longitudinal openings or passages 25 to p`ermit the iiow of fluid from the oil receiving lchambers 1.4through the valve. l The conductors or pipes 26 communicate within- "take and discharge ports'27 and 28 which Aopen through thechanibers -14 so'that lunder normal conditions the oil in the chainber 14v is free to circulate betwcentheyalve ichamber 23 and the oil receiving chamber -14.

'Communicating with one end of `the valve chamber 23 Yis av i'eed cup 29 by means of 'Which'oil or other iiuid may be introduced through the longitudinal'passages 25 into -the'conductors 26 andv thence'to the fluid receiving chambers 14 thus permitting the 'latter' to be supplied with iiuidwithout the necessity oi' Vd'etaching the sections of the l'fly Wheel.

jB'olted or otherwise rigidly secured tothe free end of the hub 10 4is a 'disk 30 Which forms a closure i'orthe adjacentendo'll the valve Vchamber 23 and is provided' with yone or moreglands 31 for the reception ci suitabley actuating 'rods A32. @ne endof each rod 32 is threaded in the valve 24while' the lopposite end thereof is bolted or otherwise secured to a collar 33slidably mountedon the driving shait 5 and to Which'inay beatltached an operating lever so that'by operating the lever the valve 24 Vmay beactuated .toI control the iioW orcirculatioir oi fluid in the several oil receiving compartments.

The relatively stationary gear 21 Vis vreinforced and strengthenedby the provisionfo'l side plates or disks 34 and 35 which are riveted, bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the gear 21 and are providedwithl recessed 'faces 36 to accommodatex the pistons on the '-pinions 15.` The 'disks 34 and 35 arey 4vided with packing ringsl 37 which proear against the interior Wally oi the chamberBS 'so as 'to prevent the escape offluid.

Attention is here called to" the fact that the Walls-oil the oil receiving chambers 14 lbetvveen the ports 27 and 2S are Venlar'gedlat'erally, as indicated at 39 so as to^ permit a smallv quantity Voioill to escape around' the eripheral edge of the pistons 17 when the atter enter the recess`22 in the relatively stationary gear.

It will thus be seen that when the valve 24 is theposition shown in Fig, 1 of the drawings the iluid in 'theseveral chambers or coinvjlaartments is free to circulate'from one to the Viotherand the lyWheel' carrying the pinions l'iree'to revolve around the relatively'sta- Y 65 tionary gear 21 Without aiectingthedriven shait. As soon, however, as the valve 24 is -moved to closed or partially close posi- A tionv the iioiv oi= oil from one ,chamber tothe other will be obstructed or impeded thus preventing` independent rotation of the pinions 15 and causing the latter to engage or 'clutchthe gear 21 and transmit rotary in otion to the driven shaft.

' It' will of course `be understood that the number of pinions carried by the driving element or fly Wheel may be variedat willand that if desired theseveral parts'may bereversedgthat is to say, 'the' pinions may be element, a piston secured to and Ii'nmnted ltor -iotatioiivviththe'pinion, abody oi- -luid for retarding theinoveinentof the piston,

and a valveior controllingthecirculationof fluid, thereby to lock* the pinion in engagement with the-gear. r

2. In variable speed mechanism, a driving element, a driven'elenient, a relativelystavtionary gear carriedzby-one 'of said elements,

there being a fluidreceiving chamber formed in theother element, a pinioii 'mounted for rotation in the iiuid chamber,- a piston se cured `to and mountedfor rotation with the pinion and a valve' 'for controlling' the iiovf of iiuid thereby to lock the pinion in engage- 'inent with the gear.

3f In variable speed mechanism, a driving element, a' driven element, a relatively stationary gear carried by one :of theeleinents, bushings piercing the other element, pinions mounted for rotation onthebushings ,pistons secured to and mounted for rotation vv iththe pinions, a body of iuid circulating between the pistons, 'anda valve'for 'controlling the circulation 0i. luid'thereby to lock the pinions in engagement vvwith the gear.

4. In variable vspeed mechanism, a'driving element,r a driven elementa relatively stationary gear carried by'one ofsaid'eleiiients, pinions mounted for-rotation :on the l'other element, pistons carried by .the pinions, a

' body 4of iiiiid'circulating-between the "pistons a'hollow valve for 'controlling the circulation 'oi' fluid thereby to lockthe pinions in engagement w'ithth'e gear, and means communicating with oneend of' the v valve for'supplying fluid through'k the valve to the pistons'.

5; In variable speed mechanism, a driving element,Y a driven element, a relatively stationary gear carried by one o'll said elements, there being a fluid receiving chamber formed in the other element, a pinion mounted for rotation in the Huid chamber, a valve for controlling the How of fluid thereby to lock the pinion in engagement with the gear and having longitudinal uid passages formed therein, and means communicating with one end of the valve for supplying fluid through the passages to said fluid chamber.

6. ln variable speed mechanism, a sectional driving element having a plurality of liuid receiving chambers formed therein, bushings extending transversely through the sections and forming closures for the chambers, pinions mounted for rotation on the bushings, pistons carried by the pinions, a driven element, a gear secured to the driven element and provided With a pocket adapted to receive the pistons of the pinions, a body of fluid circulating in the chambers, and a valve for controlling the flow of' fluid thereby to lock the pinions in engagement with the ear.

g 7. ln variable speed mechanism, a driving element having a laterally extending hub provided with a valve chamber, a pinion mounted for rotation on the driving element, a piston carried by the pinion, a driven element having a gear secured thereto, a body of fluid circulating between the piston and valve chamber, and a valve arranged Within the valve chamber for controlling the circulation of fluid thereby to lock the pinion in engagement With the gear.

8. In variable speed mechanism, a driving element, a driven element, a relatively stationary gear carried by one of said elements, there being a fluid receiving chamber formed in the opposite element, a pinion mounted for rotation in the fluid chamber, a piston secured to and mounted i'or rotation with the pinion, a valve chamber, ports communicating with the valve chamber and fluid receiving chambers, and a valve mounted for reciprocation in the valve chamber for controlling the circulation of' fluid thereby to lock the pinion in engagement with the gear.

9. ln variable speed mechanism, a driving element, a driven element, a relatively stationary gear carried by one of' said elements, there being fluid receiving chambers formed in the other element, bushings forming one Wall of each iiuid receiving chamber, pinions mounted for rotation on the bushings, pistons carried by the. pinions and Working Within'the chambers, a hub extending laterally from one of said elements and provided with a valve chamber, conductors forming a source of communication between the valve chamber and fluid receiving chambers, a body of fluid circulating Within the fluid chambers, and a valve mounted for reciprocation Within the valve chamber for controlling the flow oi' fluid thereby to lock the pinions in engagement with the gear.

10. In variable speed mechanism, a driving element provided with a laterally extending hub having a valve chamber formed therein, bushings piercing the driving member and surrounded by fluid receiving chambers, pinions mounted for rotation on the bushings, pistons carried by the pinions and operating Within the fluid receiving chambers, a driven member', a gear secured to the driven member and provided with a recess for the reception of the pistons, plates secured to the opposite sides oi' the gear and having their inner faces recessed for registration with the recess in the gear, a body of fluid circulating in the fluid chambers, conductors forming a source of communication -between the valve chamber and the fluid receiving chambers, and a valve mounted for reciprocation Within the valve chamber for controlling the flow of iiuid thereby to lock the pinions in engagement with the gear.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JAMES ANDREW GOODNER. ALBERT PAUL KENDG'.

fitnesses J. H. WARD, J. F. MCKELVEY. 

